This jewellery piece is a pendant with three components comprising of facetted amber bead, an enamelled silver flower and a gold plated silver element all of which are made by different processes. All the processes are applied systematically to each specific component and achieved by using specialised machines. The sequence of processes includes:

Faceting

This refers to the placing and polishing of flat surfaces on a mineral specimen. In this particular piece, faceting is used to polish the amber bead component of the pendant. Machines used in this process include commercially available sophisticated to custom-made ones. Examples of faceting machines available include Ultra tec, Facetron, Graves, Polymetric and many other brands. Generally, all faceting machines consist of a mast assembly where the rough amber bead is attached, some adjustments are done on the assembly and then the amber bead is lowered onto a grinding wheel for the faceting process.

Casting

Casting refers to the pouring of a liquid metal alloy into a mould. In this piece, casting is used to make the silver flower component of the pendant. The mould is hereby crafted into the shape of the desired flower and liquid silver is poured into the mould. After solidifying, the resultant component is prepared for finishing.

Enamelling

Enamelling is done as a decoration to the silver flower. Enamelling is achieved through various techniques. Types of techniques include Cloisonné, Champlevé and Marquetry techniques and many other associated ones. The choice of material used in enamelling is usually dictated by its expansion when it is heated and type of material used is usually an allochromatic glass that consists of quartz glass, iron oxide, potash and flux.

Finishing

Finishing is done to improve the aesthetic feel and look of the silver flower and it can be accomplished through lapping, where sharp edges and scratches are removed; polishing, where all traces of filing or sanding marks are removed and buffing where the silver flower is brought to a high shine. Specialised machines are used to achieve a high shine mirror finish, a satin finish or a brushed or textured finish. In this piece, finishing is done through gold plating where the silver flower is coated with a gold layer.

All these sub processes are usually applied at each phase of the overall process to ensure the resultant piece is of the highest quality both on the aesthetic feel and look and the materials used in making each component of the completed pendant.